Dec 12 Hip, Quality Kru Coffee Shop Opens

With final exams just around the corner, the library is likely starting to get more crowded, leaving Skidmore students looking for new work spots in town such as Uncommon Grounds or Starbucks. However, these shops often run out of space for the hordes of students. For those willing to take the trip off campus, Kru Coffee, located right off Route 50 in the Fresh Market shopping center, is a solid option. Kru Coffee is only a few minutes drive from campus and is conveniently located along the bus route. Having opened just three months ago, this coffee shop is relatively new to Saratoga and has not caught on to mainstream popularity yet.

To drink, we got the Cold Brew and a Blueberry Sage tea. The 20 oz. iced coffee cost us $3.50 and had a nice creamy taste, and was less bitter than lots of ice coffee. In the back of Kru Coffee, you can view their roaster where they roast their beans. High quality is definitely something to note at Kru Coffee. The tea was not made with a generic tea bag, but instead they personally steeped each cup of tea with loose leaves.

To eat, we got their Banana Toast (toast, nutella, sliced banana, honey and granola sprinkled on top) and their Avocado and Hard Boiled Egg Toast (wheat bread, avocado puree, sliced hard boiled egg, radish, and cucumber). The portions were more conducive for snacking rather than for a full breakfast. To round it out, customers can choose from various baked good options, such as muffins and scones.

The seating options were extensive and ranged from comfortable lounge chairs, to bar seating, to large tables for groups. We made our visit late one Saturday morning--a time when places like Uncommon Grounds are normally packed and it is hard to find a table. Kru was relatively empty and we had no problem finding a seat. We opted for a spot upstairs on the balcony, with views into the kitchen/coffee roasting area. Our only complaint? Although comfortable and spacious, the balcony seating is somewhat dark. For those bothered by the dim lighting, the downstairs seating near the windows would be a better choice.

Our order cost $21.15, a reasonable total given the quality of the food. However, some drink prices were significantly higher than many other coffee places in the area. For example, two shots of espresso cost $2.75, which students could buy for $1.90 at Burgess or for $2.10 at Saratoga Coffee Traders. Another noticeable price difference was that a 20 oz. latte cost $5 (if you wanted that with non-dairy milk, caramel or mocha that would be an additional 75 cents each). A venti latte at Burgess costs $3.80 and costs $3.74 at Saratoga Coffee Traders. At Kru, customers pay more for the availability of unique drinks like “bullet coffees” which incorporate both butter from grass fed cows and Brain Octane oil. The bullet lattes come in flavors like Caramel and Mocha, and go for $5.50.

Kru offers a hip, rather than cozy, experience. Unlike shops like Uncommon Grounds that boast extensive menus, the coffee seems to be the primary product; Kru even sells bags of unique coffee beans with unconventional flavor blends such as bittersweet chocolate, caramel blueberry, and red berries. These flavors may seem a little unusual, but our experience at Kru has us assured us that this place knows good coffee.

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